Food Safety Haiku Challenge!

An article in Penn State News discussed insects addressed in Haiku poems. 

So what about a food safety haiku?  

The format of a Haiku is a three-line poem with five syllables in the first and third lines, and seven syllables in the second line.

Here are my 'choice' offerings. 

Temperature check.
Food safety depends on it.

Sanitation too.

Preventive controls.

With the hazard analysis.

A food safety plan.

Clean the surface well.

Rinse with potable water.

Sanitize let dry.

Hazardous microbes.

Must reduce to safe levels.

Or assume the risk.

Send me your best (realizing that you have more important work to do rather than dinking around, counting syllables on your fingers.)

Check out the entries below

FDA and CDC Provide Update on Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers

According to the June 12 CDC update, there have been a total of 196 reported cases of people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Africana have been reported from 28 states and the District of Columbia (see map). Illnesses started on dates ranging from March 11, 2024, to May 23, 2024 (see timeline). Of 164 people with information available, 68 have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.

Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. has recalled cucumbers grown in Florida and distributed to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in AL, FL, GA, IL, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, and WV from May 17th through May 21st, 2024. This product should no longer be available for sale to consumers in stores.

The recalled cucumbers were shipped in bulk and 24- and 36-count boxes directly to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in AL, FL, GA, IL, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, and WV from May 17th through May 21st, 2024.

CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/africana-06-24/details.html
FDA
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-cucumbers-june-2024?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Cucumbers (June 2024)
Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled cucumbers distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. to certain states. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.

Fast Facts (as of Posted June 12, 2024)
Illnesses: 196 (34 new)
Hospitalizations: 68 (14 new)
Deaths: 0
States: 28 states and the District of Columbia (3 new)
Recall: Yes
Investigation status: Active (first posted on June 5, 2024)

Product

Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. has recalled cucumbers grown in Florida and distributed to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in AL, FL, GA, IL, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, and WV from May 17th through May 21st, 2024. This product should no longer be available for sale to consumers in stores.

Warning Letter Issued to Candy Company After Mislabeling Issue Leads to Undeclared Peanuts

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Big Island Candies, Inc. of  Hilo, HI after the company recalled their Big Island Candies Makana Brownie Assortment Box for not declaring the major food allergen, peanuts, finished product label.  The company became aware of the undeclared peanut after a consumer notified them that they experienced an allergic reaction to peanuts after consuming a brownie packed from the assortment box of Makana brownies. In documentation provided to FDA, the company indicated that Milk Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter brownies were unintentionally packed into the assortment box which was labeled to contain brownies containing macadamia nuts.

The company's corrective actions: 1) no longer producing any products that contain peanuts and removing all peanut ingredients from the facility and 2) if the company should reintroduce peanut products again the following additional measures will be put into effect: crates of food products labeled to bear or contain an ingredient containing peanuts will be identified with a color code plaque, all items containing peanuts will be stored on separate pallets in a designated area, additional training will be conducted to alert staff on any and all changes, and the food safety plan will be updated in writing. 

Warning Letter Issued to Iowa Acidified Food Processor

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Midwest Foods, LLC, of Ankeny, IA. a manufacturer of salsas, sauces, dressings, and jams, with some of these products being acidified.
Failed to file scheduled process to FDA for some of the acidified foods

Failed to follow scheduled process for some acidified products.  .
A few other items related to Preventive Controls, misbranding, and labeling.

Overall, nothing really major...probably not killing anyone.

WARNING LETTER
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/midwest-foods-llc-677464-05212024
Midwest Foods, LLC
MARCS-CMS 677464 — MAY 21, 2024

Research - Environmental Antecedents (Circumstances) of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks, United States, 2017–2019

A published study in the Journal of Food Protection looked at the environmental antecedents, or the circumstances and situations that led to the led to the reason for the outbreak.

"The first set is outbreak contributing factors—the practices that most likely led to contamination, proliferation, or survival of agents in the environment (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). The second set is environmental antecedents, hereafter referred to as antecedents, of the outbreak. Antecedents are the circumstances and situations that led to the contributing factors. For example, an investigation may identify the contributing factor to a norovirus outbreak as contamination of food by an ill employee, and the antecedent as insufficient staffing, which led to the employee not being allowed to stay home while ill."

"Identifying the contributing factors and antecedents is essential to understanding the outbreak’s root cause and implementing sustainable corrective actions to stop the outbreak and future outbreaks (Firestone et al., 2018)."

The two biggest environmental antecedents were 1) lack of training of employees for specific purposes and 2) lack of oversight of employees / enforcement of policies.

From the text, Table 3 and 5 were most interesting.

How the Moon Landing Led to HACCP

This story is always reflected upon at the start of HACCP training.  If you are interested in more of the details on how the HACCP concept originated, here it is.


NASA
https://spinoff.nasa.gov/moon-landing-food-safety
How the Moon Landing Led to Safer Food for Everyone

System created for Apollo astronaut food has become the global standard for hazard prevention

Originally published 11/23/2020

As many Americans prepare for a socially distanced Thanksgiving meal, some may be aware that NASA helped develop the tiny, highly efficient video cameras in the devices that will allow virtual family dinners, and a few may know it was the space agency that first modernized conference calling. But NASA has made an even more important contribution to the holiday: no one is likely to worry about the safety of the food on their table.

Today, outbreaks of food poisoning from packaged supermarket food are exceedingly rare, thanks in part to the food industry’s near-universal adoption of an approach that’s little-known outside the business, called the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. Even less-known is the fact that HACCP was created for astronaut food in the early days of the Apollo program.

FSIS Issues Health Alert for Salad Kit with Undeclared Allergen Issue Due to Mislabeling

USDA-FSIS is issuing a public health alert for a salad product labeled as Bistro Grande Southwestern Style with Chicken due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. The salad product labeled as Southwestern Style with Chicken may actually contain Chicken Caesar Salad containing wheat and fish (anchovies), known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered when the producing establishment notified FSIS that it received a consumer complaint that a salad product labeled as Bistro Grande Southwestern Style with Chicken contained Chicken Caesar Salad.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-southwestern-style-salad-bowls-chicken-due
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Southwestern Style Salad Bowls With Chicken Due To Misbranding And Undeclared Allergens

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for a salad product labeled as Bistro Grande Southwestern Style with Chicken due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. The salad product labeled as Southwestern Style with Chicken may actually contain Chicken Caesar Salad containing wheat and fish (anchovies), known allergens, which are not declared on the product label. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers with allergies to wheat and fish are aware that this product should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.

Ohio Prepared Sandwich Operation Recalls Product for Listeria Concerns After Positive Environmental Sample

Classic Delight LLC, a St. Mary’s, OH firm is voluntarily recalling a limited number of individually wrapped sandwiches due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  The recall was initiated after environmental samples tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The company is working in conjunction with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct this recall. The production of these products has been suspended while the FDA and the company continue to investigate the source of the problem.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/classic-delight-llc-issues-public-health-alert-due-possible-health-risk
Classic Delight LLC Issues Public Health Alert Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 10, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  June 11, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Classic Delight LLC
Brand Name:  Classic Delight, Nutrisystem, Wakefield
Product Description:  Individually wrapped sandwiches

Illinois Feed Facility Expands April Recall of Feed with Elevated Mineral Levels

ADM Animal Nutrition, a division of ADM, is expanding its already expanded recall of animal feed to to elevated levels of magnesium, sodium, calcium, chloride and/or phosphorus.  ADM first issued a recall from produce produced at their manufacturing facility in Quincy Illinois on April 1, 2024 recall from produce produced at their manufacturing facility in Quincy Illinois on April 1, 2024 and then expanded that recall on April 11, 2024.expanded that recall on April 11, 2024.
The expansion was to add additional product lots.

ADM Animal Nutrition Expands Recall to Include Additional Lots of Various Feed Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 10, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  June 11, 2024
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary
Reason for Announcement:  Specific lots may contain elevated levels of magnesium, sodium, calcium and/or phosphorus
Company Name: ADM Animal Nutrition
Brand Name:  Grostrong, MoorMan's, MaxLean, Roughage Buster, Pen Pals, Patriot, Goat Power, Juniorglo, Rack Plus, Seniorglo
Product Description:  Animal Feed Products